The second match of 1/16 finals became the remake of the recent confrontation between these teams in the Russian championship. The result is the same.
Russian Cup. Women. 1/16 finals.
30.10 Fenix (China) — Luch (Moscow) — 29:27 (15:14)
Arbitors: A.Gerasimova, D.Gerasimova.
Fenix: Lu Chang (14/35=40%), Zhang Jiaxuan (didn’t play), Song Chenxi (0/5=0%); Qu Wenna (didn’t play), Zhang Haixia (0/1), Lin Yanqun (5/11), Liu Chan (didn’t play), Li Xiaoqing (0/1), Xin Yan (didn’t play), Gong Lei (3/3), Sun Jiao (3/5), Jin Mengqing (6/11), Liu Yuting (2/4), Zhuang Hongyan (1/2), Liu Xuedan (1/2), Zhang Tingting (8/13).
Luch: Chipula (3/18=16%), Tseluyko (9/23=39%); Baeva (6/10), Mochalova (1/3), Chernyaeva (3/3), Usoltseva (1/1), Volynka, Chernisheva (2/3), Fedorova (0/2), Fedosova (3/11), Makhatadze (9/14), Shanova (2/4).
Two meetings in a row between the teams in two different tournaments — is a rare occurrence. That is why it is tempting to equate the outcome of confrontation to two-match European Cup. Using this logic, HC Fenix moved further with both home and away wins.
To start with, here is a historical fact. Chinese club Fenix became the first non-Russian team in the Super League and the second in the Russian Cup. Pathfinder was the Azerbaijan HC ABU Baku, which participated in the Russian Open Cup in 2007. Also HC Fenix became the second foreign team, having won in Russian Cup match. In 2007 HC ABU Baku beat HC AGU-Adyif in the match for the 7th place, while HC Fenix will have to overcome one more stage before getting into the top-8 of the cup competition.
45 minutes were enough for HC Luch in the recent match in the championship of Russia, in this meeting — 20 minutes less. The short bench didn’t become longer in 3 days, so Nikolay Ismailov did’t add any new trump cards. Though at the beginning of the match the nominal guests even set the pace, which was maintained by the Chinese players.
However, HC Luch has been wrong far more often by the 25th minute of the game. Natalia Derepasko started using the opportunities for rotation immediately, for example, Jin Mengqing had rest even in the first half.
Further, by the end of the first half HC Fenix firstly took the lead and didn't lose the advantage in score. Indeed, the guests allowed their competitors to have a more than 4-goals advantage only twice, but it seemed to be clear for everyone that they wouldn’t manage to catch the hosts up, no matter how hard Ekaterina Makhatadze tried.
The nominal left back appeared in the absence of Tatiyana Zakharova and Julia Krupennikova and became the Ismailov’s team leader, scored 9 goals and assisted her partners and earned 7-meter throws. Julia Baeva added 6 goals, Olga Tseluyko reflected practically 40% of throws in the second time, but all was in vain.
Firstly, the guests have failed to change the gates of Lu Chang back, who appeared during the first half and made 14 saves without descending 40% of reliability. Secondly, the right back Zhang Tingting felt inspiration and scored 8 goals. During time-outs Natalia Derepasko payed special attention to the weakness of competitors in the zone of Zlata Fedosova defend, and the Chinese team used the benefit of it.
After the promising September HC Luch lost in every 7 matches in October. HC Fenix keeps surprising the Russian audience: the team from China has already achieved 5 victories within 2 opening months of the season.
Photo: HC Fenix press
